Hi peacock
just a quckie … I also read somewhere that you re not supposed to use pools …the sea is apparently better …
having said that … I know that swimming pools are far more dodgy generally the more people you have in them …
what I mean is … if you have one person swimming 100 times it is far cleaner than 100 people swimming once … is your own pool ??
if you want to find out I suggest you start a new thread called somehting like “how risky is swimming in a private pool during chemo” and I’m sure you’ll get better information
if it is your own pool I think you need to make sure you are testing the water daily etc …
swimming is good re: lymphoedema …
perhaps you could keep your head out and avoid drinking it??? (hope I’m not putting anyone else off swimming pools for life!)
good luck
keep your feathers up!
love FB xx
I did a brief training course on safety in swimming pools and the problem is basically how they are cleaned. Salt water is very in hospitable to bacteria so is much better than a swimming pool, but then if the pool contains salt water rather than chlorinated water you may be OK. You can even get systems that clean the water using UV, they’re amazing and I would happily swim in a pool cleaned like that after chemo, during chemo I’m not going anywhere near a pool, even if only I had swum in it this is because the warm water is heaven for bacteria and fungal infections that cause things like verucas etc.
Chlorianated swimming pools have to be maintained at strict PH values and levels of chlorine can vary massively, outdoor pools are even worse because the chlorine evaporates into the atmosphere and the hotter the day the faster it happens , it’s a nightmare to control.
So most probably you’ve got a pool that will either have too much chlorine which will irritate your sensitive chemo afflicted skin or not enough in which case bacteria starts to flourish. the real fear is things like cryptosporidian and most pools can’t really test for these things, it’s the health and safety at the local council that does these things.
Just in case you’re still in doubt consider this… person eats bad curry, person gets runny bottom, person puts on swimming cosy, does NOT shower and jumps on pool, you jump in following in their wake. Might as well have enjoyed the curry yourself 
Get my drift.
Sorry to be so grim but I know what it can do to healthy people.
The sea however is very very big and full of salt, not the same thing at all.
Hi FB - yes it is our own pool, only 3 people generally go in it and we all share the same germs (OH and daughter). We do regularly check the ph and chlorine, and so far so good. I’m afraid I’ve taken the risk as it has been so hot and I’ve just needed to cool off. Some days I don’t go in the pool, so its not an everyday thing. We have cover over the pool so there is no risk of sunburn.
Thanks for all the info Vertangie, it is a bit of a horror story isn’t it, do we know the risks ourselves before we go swimming? I would go in the sea but our nearest beach is 4 hours away so its not an option really.
Bahamas or Bermuda, or wherever…here I come (eventually after chemo).
peacock, if it’s just the 3 of you I think you’ll be OK. If you can check that the level are optimum at least 20 mins before you dip (gives time for the chlorine to do it’s job) then I think you should be fine.
Hi Everyone
Kirsty, i do miss my kids a lot but you should definatley take this time to spend on yourself and give you time to recharge tou battery. Ive just started using my pool again after a long break while having rads. Try to find something nice to do that you dont really have time for when your sons at home.
Peacock, i have lived in Spain now for 5 years and was DX in 2007. The hospital here has been great. Are you having your treatment in France? I only stopped using my pool while having rads because i was advised by radiologist not to use it, but was not given same warning while having chemo so used my pool the whole time and had no problems. Im definatley gratefull for it now with it being so B:/!***Y hot
FB, hope your still managing to keep cool!!!
Lynnex
… hi all… don’t know how to put this but perhaps as it’s only you 3 you could introduce “bottom washing” prior to bathing (or after pooing!!!) to reduce any risk … and not let any visitors in it at all … love FB xx